Waikato road closures: SH1 at Lake Karāpiro to close for four days in January

SH1 at Lake Karapiro will be closed for four days in January. Photo / New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

From next year, State Highway 1 at Karāpiro will be closed regularly - up to four times a year - for maintenance and repair work, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said.

The first closure will take place for four days in January, from midnight, January 12 to midnight, January 16, when contractors will lay 42,000sq m of chipseal and apply a second seal on barrier areas and shoulders.

They will also carry out works at the intersection with Maungatautari Rd, and general maintenance such as mowing and sign repairs.

NZTA Waikato Bay of Plenty Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Roger Brady said the agency understood the work and associated closures would cause inconvenience.

“To get maintenance and repair work done quickly, safely and cost effectively, these full closures will become a regular event – up to three to four times a year,” Brady said.

“A closure is the most efficient and safest way to complete the necessary works. The closure is between Karāpiro Rd south to SH1/29 at Piarere.

“We appreciate this will have a major impact on people and we will give as much notice as possible of closures.”

Brady said the state highway network was essential for moving people and goods around the country.

“[This] work is necessary to ensure the road is safe and accessible for everyone who travels on it.”

While all properties within the closure and sideroads leading to it will have access maintained, delays are expected, he said.

Vehicles will be grouped and piloted through the site.

Northbound from near the SH1/29 roundabout will be leaving on the hour. Southbound from Karāpiro Road will be leaving on the half-hour, and people coming from sideroads will join the convoy as it passes their road.

All visitors and service providers can join this piloted access when they are visiting a property within the closure.

Emergency services will have full access through the site at all times.

All other traffic will need to take detours or alternative routes to avoid the area.

The details for the road closure on SH1 at Lake Karāpiro. Graphic / New Zealand Transport Agency

The detours are via Karāpiro Rd/Taotaoroa Rd/SH29 in both directions with a speed restriction of 70km/h.

State highway traffic and freight will be encouraged to use SH26/SH27. HPMVs and over-dimension loads also need to use SH26/SH27. This will add around 50 minutes to journeys.

Inter-regional traffic will be encouraged to use other routes like SH2/SH27 to the east of the closure. This will add around 18 minutes to journeys.

Traffic presenting at the stacking points at the north and south of the works area will not be turned around and can join the piloted convoys.

Work is weather dependent and any changes will be updated on Journey Planner at journeys.nzta.govt.nz.